With one day to go before London’s pyjama extravaganza gets under way, Evgeny Lebedev donned his finest silks and urged Londoners to throw caution to the wind by wearing their nightclothes to work to raise money for Red Nose Day.

The owner of the London Evening Standard today agreed to become
patron of the £9.4 million Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund, as
he sported his jimjams to support the fund’s joint appeal with
Comic Relief.

Mr Lebedev said: “One of the most important duties of a
newspaper is to raise awareness of important causes and help those
in need. I’m extremely proud of the enormous impact the
Dispossessed Fund has had in its campaign to help the disadvantaged
in London. So I’m delighted to take on the role as patron and
thoroughly look forward to helping champion its brilliant
causes.

“As for Comic Relief, I’d tell our readers this: You all know
your duty — wear your Simon Schamas to work tomorrow and raise as
much money as you darn well can!”

By giving 649 community groups financial support in the form of
small grants worth a total £4.57 million, our award-winning fund
has touched the lives of an estimated 100,000 Londoners since its
formation less than three years ago.

Today, from the heights of skyscrapers to the tunnels of the
London Dungeons, workers across the capital united to urge everyone
to get sponsored and join the pyjama party. Window cleaners,
dancers, actors, hosts at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the
Standard’s own City staff joined in a mass un-dress
rehearsal.

London Dungeon actress Gemma Nixon said: “It’s the ultimate
duvet day,” while at the top of the Gherkin, window cleaners Ross
Day, 28, and Rafik Seddiki got into the spirit. Mr Day, from
Woodford Green, said: “It was fun — I wasn’t very warm though.” In
Stratford, hosts of the new Park in Progress tour wore pyjamas at
the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower. Communications
co-ordinator Philippa Weekes, 39, said: “I wore a dressing gown — I
like dressing gowns.” Team leader Charley Yates, 19, said: “It was
fun. I recommend it.”

English National Ballet dancers went to rehearsals for their
London Coliseum production of Ecstasy and Death in anything from
Snoopy pyjamas to polka dots. Amber Hunt, 31, said: “Live a little
and have a laugh.” Senri Kou, 30, said: “Wear pyjamas — it will
save you half an hour in the morning.”